Officials mute on George H.W. Bush's condition, cite family privacy

Hospital officials on Thursday declined to provide any update regarding former President George H.W. Bush’s condition, citing a desire by the family for privacy.

Bush, 88, was in the intensive care unit at Methodist Hospital in Houston, a hospital spokesman confirmed to the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday night.

Hospital spokesman David Bricker would not say whether Bush was still in the intensive care unit Thursday. When the family decides that “events warrant” an update, a family spokesperson or the hospital will release more information, Bricker said.

The former president has been struggling with fever, weakness and a bronchitis-like cough, according to the Associated Press. A high fever prevented his plan to spend Christmas at home.